Another Japanese Princess Renounces Royal Status to Marry Shipping Employee

Last year, Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako of Akishino made headlines for renouncing her royal status to marry for love. Her choice was met with admiration across the world, especially because she is the eldest granddaughter of Japanese Emperor Akihito.

A lot of people were amazed that she would readily give up her royal status for love. In Japan, royals have to renounce their status if they marry a commoner.

While Princess Mako has not yet married her fiancé, another princess has followed in her footsteps.

Princess Ayako of Takamado will also renounce her royal status as she is set to marry a commoner, a shipping employee named Kei Moriya.

Photo credit: CNN

Judging from their happy smiles during the press conference, it was clear that these two are very much in love with each other and don’t mind not having a royal title.

The couple had met through their parents. Princess Takamodo, Princess Ayako’s mother, knew Kei’s parents through her outreach work at a local NGO. She introduced the pair, in hopes that Kei would inspire her daughter to join global welfare activities – no expected that the two would actually fall in love, almost at first sight.

Shortly after meeting, the two became a pair.

Photo credit: Channel News Asia

“I have no idea what my mother’s expectation about introducing me to Mr. Moriya. I feel it was a great opportunity readied by our mothers as we grew to feel attracted to each other through many outings and sharing memories,” Princess Ayako revealed.

Though they met less than a year ago, Kei knew she was the one – and proposed to her shortly afterwards.

“He proposed to me this year having a dinner at a restaurant. It was very sudden, so I asked to hold for my answer. As we have deepened the relationship including our family, friends and related people, I came to the decision and accepted this proposal,” the princess said.

But while marrying Kei would make her lose her royal status, Princess Ayako doesn’t have any regrets.

“I would like to form a warm family full of laughter. We both have the experience of sudden loss of an irreplaceable parent, his mother for Mr. Moriya and my father for me. We would not take everyday life for granted and want to find the happiness and fun in the daily life,” she revealed.

At the end of the day, love and happiness are truly more important than a royal title, right?